Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Hmm...Well, I'm no expert,, but let's fig. this out!!*LONG MUSHY POST*

OK: here's what I do...

My routines have taken some serious practice-doing Heather's diet guidelines and getting enough liquid and taking Zelnorm and having GERD and trying to lose weight...it's been a tough balance. But it's WORKING!!

In the morning, right as soon as I get up, I have my Zelnorm with a few gulps of water. Water tastes like barf to me on an empty stomach though!

I have my shower, and then go downstairs and blend up my smoothie and drink it. By that time, at least, the Zelnorm is dissolved a bit in my system. My smoothie has the Metamucil, berries, soy milk and soy protein in it, and gets thick as a milkshake and you don't have to gag down the fiber that way because it feels natural.

You could possibly have your probiotic 30 mins before and your Zelnorm 15 mins. before a meal. Did you know that it takes 3 hours for your stomach to fully empty?

Because I'm a teacher, I drink my breakfast at about 7 AM, then I have my Chai tea latte from about 7:30 to 9. It's lower in caffeine and I make sure it's half soy milk so it's not all for naught!! I have to make it at home and and take it to work, because otherwise I'd be too full=attack.

I eat some animal crackers or as piece of benign fruit at morning recess(about 10)-no more than apple size.
After morning recess, I try to drink a coffee mug full of water.
At lunch break, I eat a reg. meal. Once my tummy has digested a bit, I start on my P.M. mug of water (or Chai tea, depending on how wild the kids are that day,LOL!)

I have 2 or 3 cookies, only if I'm starving, at PM recess(2:15ish.) I usually am fine till I get home, or at least till after school. I find if I don't keep a tiny bit in there, I do get super hungry and eat more than I mean to.

After school I always have some toast. This is usually at about 4 PM. I tend to forget to drink in the evening, I'll admit. I naturally only crave about 2 glasses a day.

I then eat NOTHING till about 7:00. My suppertime is later, but I'm always up till midnight. So, I take my Zelnorm as I begin to prep supper, which is anytime betw. 15 and 30 minutes. For you, maybe you can take your probiotic right before preparing dinner, and then halfway through, have the Zelnorm.

If I have my Zelnorm on even a bit of food in the tummy, it just does not work.

A note-I do eat my dinner late, but because of my GERD I have to be SUPER careful that I don't fall asleep on a full or even partially full tummy. If I do, it's GUARANTEED attack that night, and I don't sleep and I have asthma all night. Whee!

So, that's how I can tell you that a full tummy is empty by 3 hours.

As I said, so far, I have lost 11 pounds(though with the strep throat right now, I'm sure that number will rise)and feel remarkably better. My doctor is just thrilled that my C is 99% GONE!!!

Cyndy, I hope this helps you a lot. I SWEAR that nothing else in my life has ever gotten rid of the C (I still have cramps but they're way milder, and I still get D, but not as painfully, and I don't mind it) and no other lifestyle change-Weight Watchers, South Beach,burning my butt off at the gym-has ever had me lose so much in such a short period of time.(and made me want to stick to it too!

)

I had actually cried to my doctor recently because I thought "since I am on steroids my weight just is MEANT to stick." Even he was stunned at how quickly I'd lost so much.

I owe so much to Heather and the ladies and gents here! I just hope that I am giving back to you in some way here too.

PS- I would assume that herbal tea wouldn't interfere...unless you think that it digests-if you think it's causing problems, or if you put sugar or cream or anything else in it-it might interact. you could try having no tea before breakfast...it's hard for me to go an hour before my AM. warmup but its easier on the gut. Of course, if the tea is your probiotic, that's not a choice!

I guess you could, in that case, try Zelnorm an hour before, but that might be too long!

Hope so much that this helps!!

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Keep on keepin' on...

Edited by SoreTummyMommy (05/23/05 11:39 AM)

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